Fall 2025 University Date Night

University Date Night was truly lit as hundreds of university students visited the museum to learn about bioluminescence during the Night of Lights. Curious visitors took a deep dive into current events as they explored the different levels of the ocean in “Journey to the Hadal Zone.” Many strange and wonderful creatures made an appearance there—and we’re not just talking about the students!

Fans of the firefly squid gave it a glowing recommendation when they found it again at the button station. Many guests also left with noticeably brighter countenances after visiting the glow-in-the-dark face-paint station.

Couples flashed each other (honor code approved) with flashlights and Morse code in the Firefly Room. Clear communication can be tricky, but they found a way. We don’t know how many people met their soulmate that Friday, but we definitely saw plenty of sparks!

Arissa, education assistant

2025 Wild Edibles Nature Experienceship Report

What is there to eat on campus? There are a few obvious answers: food from restaurants at the Cougareat, meals from the dining hall, snacks from vending machines. But hiding in plain sight are some other delicious options: plants!

Led by foraging expert Tom Smith, participants in the Wild Edibles Nature Experienceship spent a Saturday morning exploring the world of edible plants. Participants picked, gathered, tasted, cooked, ground, and sampled all kinds of food that you couldn’t find at a regular grocery store. On a tour of campus, they learned to see familiar places through new eyes - learning what plants can be eaten fresh, what can be cooked into delicious sauces or jellies, how to grind flour from acorns, and how to tap syrup from trees. Tom Smith entertained us with tales of foraging from his own life, and examples of how using what’s around us can be an everyday principle.

After the excursion, the team returned to the kitchen to sample some incredible dishes. Acorn flour cookies and bread, elderberry muffins, and homemade chocolate were all a huge hit, as well as a puffball mushroom soup. New tastes and smells were experienced by all, and participants had an unforgettable morning learning what wonderful things there are to eat all around us.

Leah, museum educator

2025 Fall Trivia Night Report

Last Friday, October 10th at the Bean we had our spooktacular Trivia Night at the Museum, the second in a series of rotating trivia nights in each of the BYU museums. With the help of their taxidermied mascots, 10 daring teams competed to see who knew the most about spooky critters. Their mettle was tested as they faced questions about deep sea animals, terrifying fungi, nocturnal animals, and every kind of creepy, crawling bug. They even came face to face with a real-life tarantula. In the speed round contestants showcased their knowledge of Halloween in a Kahoot battle for the ages. Ultimately, it was team TJs that pulled ahead in the speed round to win it all. Join us for our next Trivia Night at the Bean on April 3rd!

• Trivia Night at the BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures - November 21
• Trivia Night at the BYU Museum of Art - January 30
• Trivia Night at the BYU Bean Life Science Museum - April 3

Margaret, museum educator

2025 Fall Sketching Dead Things Report

On September 27th, BYU students were drawn to the Bean museum for Sketching Dead Things! After a quick run down of the evening’s itinerary, students scattered around the museum and sketched dead things for about an hour and a half. During this time of free sketching, soft music played over the speakers as museum employees talked with participants about sketching tips and tricks and encouraged them to check out the classroom which was full of touchable specimens and a how-to draw video featuring a student educator from the Bean museum. At the end of the event, participants had the opportunity to show off what they had drawn in a gallery walk while they ate cookies and checked out what others drew. Sketching Dead Things at the Bean Museum was a big hit this semester and we can’t wait to do it again!

Audrey Gordon, Museum Educator

2025 Fall Birding Report

On Saturday, September 27th, 2025, 24 pairs of eyes scoured the skies along the Provo River Delta as the Bean Museum Birding Nature Experienceship attendees embarked on their journey. Our group recorded a total of 34 bird species encountered as they traversed the path, listening to birdsong and spotting species with the assistance of binoculars and spotting scopes. We extend our thanks to the more reclusive birds for making an appearance and to Keeli Marvel from the Utah County Birders for joining us and being our expert guide.

Here is the full list of the 34 bird species spotted or heard:

• Mallard (7)

• California quail (2) (Heard only)

• Eurasian collared-dove (1)

• Mourning dove (6)

• Common nighthawk (3) 

• American coot (13)

• Sandhill crane (2)

• American avocet (3)

• Killdeer (23)

• Franklin’s gull (4)

• Caspian tern (2)

• Western grebe (2)

• Clark’s grebe (4)

• Double-crested cormorant (3) 

• Snowy egret (1)

• American white pelican (1) 

• Northern flicker (3)

• American kestrel (1)

• Black phoebe (1) 

• Black-capped chickadee (4) 

• Tree swallow (5) 

• Barn swallow (20) 

• Ruby-crowned kinglet (1) 

• Bewick’s wren (1)

• European starling (100) 

• American robin (2)

• House sparrow (3) 

• American goldfinch (20)

• White-crowned sparrow (7) 

• Song sparrow (3) 

• Red-winged blackbird (8) 

• Brewer’s blackbird (5) 

• Orange-crowned warbler (1) 

• Yellow-rumped warbler (9)

Common nighthawk

Birder using a spotting scope to get a closer look.

Northern flicker

All of the Birding Experienceship attendees on River Lane.

Picture credit: Katy Knight, Tasia Smith

Tasia Smith, museum educator

2025 Fall Insect Nature Experienceship Report

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, participants of this year’s insect experienceship had an un-”bee”-lievably fun time. Patrons began the day with a private tour of the Bean Museum’s entomology collection led by none other than Dr. Shawn Clark, manager of our entomology collection and insect extraordinare. After the tour, patrons loaded into museum vans and rode up Provo Canyon to Big Springs Park, on the way receiving some pretty “fly” stories from Dr. Clark all about insects. By this point, patrons were pretty “antsy” to catch some bugs! At Big Springs, the patrons learned all about different catching techniques, then everyone split up to catch some insects. Dr. Clark observed and gave tips about different species while participants caught their insects. At the end of the trip, Dr. Clark taught everyone about preserving and mounting their new specimens before everyone drove back to the museum. “Snailed” it!

Audrey, student educator

2025 Biology Bootcamp Report

This summer at the Bean Museum, kids have bean having so much fun at summer camps! In July, the Bean Life Science Museum hosted Biology Bootcamp, a week-long day camp for children ages 7 to 11. The camp consisted of five days, each with a theme modeled after different ecosystems throughout the world. 

Monday focused on the marine ecosystem as children learned about how different marine life swim, eat, and survive in deep ocean environments. The children had the opportunity to watch a fish dissection, create a clay shark, and use their imagination and observation skills as they hopped on a pretend submarine to enter a journey to the hadal zone. 

Tuesday’s theme was savanna safari. On this day, the children learned about mammals in the savanna as they participated in games and crafts focused on how mammals survive in a savanna ecosystem. The biggest hit was a popular outdoor game called survival of the fittest, where the children split into animal teams and tried their best to survive in the wild by gathering food and water while avoiding potential poachers and disease. 

Wednesday was jungle day. Children had the opportunity to explore the museum with a scavenger hunt, visit BYU’s duck pond, learn how to dance like a bird of paradise, and even got a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s wet collection. The day ended with a craft and fun rock-paper-scissors game, making Wednesday a big hit.

Thursday was an exciting day for the kids as the campers field tripped to the local Provo River Delta to learn about wetlands. On this day, the children had the opportunity to kayak in the wetland ecosystem at the delta and received hands-on experience as they learned to record observations in a field journal like real wetland scientists. 

The week’s finale was a field trip to Utah’s Hogle Zoo, giving the kids the chance to see all the animals they had learned about throughout the week in real life. Biology Bootcamp was a huge hit, and the museum cannot wait to host more summer camps like it next year!

Audrey Gordon, Student Educator